By | Staff Reporter
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has postponed its decision on Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid’s request for custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session. Rashid, currently jailed in Tihar on terror charges, sought temporary release to represent his constituency. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) strongly opposed the plea, arguing that Rashid has no specific speech to deliver and that his presence in Parliament would require armed escorts, which is against security protocols.
The NIA also claimed that Rashid’s request was vague and lacked valid grounds, as he failed to specify how he would serve his constituency during the session. Rashid’s lawyer, Senior Advocate N Hariharan, countered that his client’s constituency cannot remain unrepresented for long, especially with critical issues like reduced funding for Jammu & Kashmir needing urgent attention in Parliament.
The court has reserved its order, with the next hearing scheduled for February 11. Rashid, who won the 2024 elections from jail, faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a terror funding case linked to separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA alleges that Rashid and others collaborated with militant groups and Pakistan’s ISI to destabilize the region.
The jurisdictional confusion over which court should handle Rashid’s bail plea has further complicated the case, with the Delhi High Court seeking clarification from the Supreme Court. Rashid’s legal team emphasized that his regular bail plea has been pending since September 2024, leaving him without a remedy.
